Question

unable to fork php

Asked by: fixitben

Hi,

I keep getting this Warning: exec() [function.exec]: Unable to fork [c:\lmstat.exe -c 27001@aba5.stress.com -a ] in

I am running php 5 on IIS windows 2003 server setup with windows authentication.

When I access this page it renders fine, but I am an administrator.

When any user that isn't an admin accesses the page it displays this and doesn't render.

I have already added everyone full access to the exe just for testing.  I have also added domain users and IUSR.   It still does the same thing.  

Does anybody have any ideas?

Thanks
Fixitben

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Asked On
2009-01-15 at 18:52:42ID24056909
Topics

PHP for Windows

,

PHP Scripting Language

,

Microsoft IIS Web Server

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
10

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Answers

 

by: al3cs12Posted on 2009-01-15 at 19:26:44ID: 23390106

the problem is with IIS user permissions not php, someone already gave the solution of this: http://www.iis-aid.com/articles/trouble_shooting/warning_exec_function_exec_unable_to_fork#comment-1638

 

by: fixitbenPosted on 2009-01-15 at 19:36:25ID: 23390128

I already did the steps on that site before I posted.

I am using windows authentication NOT the anonymous iusr account.

I have already given full access to the file for the everyone user.  

I also added the domain users security group full access to that file and it still doesn't work.

Maybe I am doing something wrong.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
Fixitben

 

by: Ray_PaseurPosted on 2009-01-17 at 11:45:31ID: 23402100

Can you explain why you're using exec() - there may be an alternate solution if we can understand that part.  Thanks, ~Ray

 

by: fixitbenPosted on 2009-01-17 at 11:51:26ID: 23402121

Well I need to execute the c:\lmstat.exe   and pass back all information printed as an array.

lmstat is a license manager for flexlm.  When you execute it sends back who is using the licenses on a server.

The wierd part this works when I hit the site, because I am an administrator in Active directory.  But if a normal user hits the site you get the unable to fork.  So I am almost 100% sure it is a permission error somewhere.

I hope that gives a little more information.

Thanks
Fixitben

 

by: Ray_PaseurPosted on 2009-01-17 at 11:53:47ID: 23402129

Have you tried something like file_get_contents('c:\lmstat.exe') ?

 

by: fixitbenPosted on 2009-01-17 at 12:14:31ID: 23402217

That just returns the binary in ascii of the file lmstat.exe.  It doesn't execute the file.  Basically it acts like when you try to view a text file that is binary.  It just displays jiberish.

Thanks
Fixitben

 

by: al3cs12Posted on 2009-01-17 at 12:36:52ID: 23402326

if you still haven't found a solution you can try installing apache on other port of course and try running exec from there. This workaround may seem ugly but it should do the trick if you still won't find whats wrong with IIS. Good luck

 

by: Ray_PaseurPosted on 2009-01-17 at 12:38:42ID: 23402332

D'OH!  I knew that.  If you don't get a good answer soon, you might want to close the question and ask it again.  Sometimes questions get overlooked when there has been a back-and-forth exchange.  Sorry I have not been able to help you. ~Ray

 

by: Ray_PaseurPosted on 2009-01-17 at 12:39:11ID: 23402334

@al3cs12: Great idea! ~Ray

 

by: fixitbenPosted on 2009-01-21 at 18:03:51ID: 31535340

Well the fix was add execute access to the cmd.exe and the lmstat.exe for all domain users.
Thanks for the help.

Thanks
Fixitben

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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